My house has developed an annoying problem that I've searched the
newsgroup for without finding anything similar...

My water pipes have started to give an annoying knocking noise but it
does not fit the descriptions of hammering that I've read - ie. it isn't
a knocking sound repeated in quick succession but a one-off knock that
sometimes repeats after 18 seconds and sometimes after minutes.
It doesn't happen all the time and is perhaps related to water
usage in the house - sometimes it happens straight after using a tap and
sometimes it happens later (perhaps even 30 minutes or more later).
I've felt the pipe with the stopcock on it and can feel vibration when
the knock occurs. I can also feel the vibration at any tap.

I've only noticed this in the past couple of weeks and the only things
that have changed water-wise are moving to a metered supply just before
xmas and opening the stopcock fully (previously it was almost closed and
had been for years in an attempt to stop a leak - a plumber re-sealed it
and since just before xmas it's been fully open).

Turning the stopcock off completely stops the noise as does leaving a
very small trickle of water or fast stream of drips coming from a tap (I
tried this with upstairs and downstairs taps). Obviously neither of
these are long term solutions so does anyone have any suggestion?

Duncan

In message , Duncan
Hoyle writes

My house has developed an annoying problem that I've searched the
newsgroup for without finding anything similar...

My water pipes have started to give an annoying knocking noise but it
does not fit the descriptions of hammering that I've read - ie. it isn't
a knocking sound repeated in quick succession but a one-off knock that
sometimes repeats after 18 seconds and sometimes after minutes.
It doesn't happen all the time and is perhaps related to water
usage in the house - sometimes it happens straight after using a tap
and sometimes it happens later (perhaps even 30 minutes or more later).
I've felt the pipe with the stopcock on it and can feel vibration when
the knock occurs. I can also feel the vibration at any tap.

I've only noticed this in the past couple of weeks and the only things
that have changed water-wise are moving to a metered supply just before
xmas and opening the stopcock fully (previously it was almost closed and
had been for years in an attempt to stop a leak - a plumber re-sealed it
and since just before xmas it's been fully open).

Turning the stopcock off completely stops the noise as does leaving a
very small trickle of water or fast stream of drips coming from a tap
(I tried this with upstairs and downstairs taps). Obviously neither of
these are long term solutions so does anyone have any suggestion?

Duncan


Hi,

Check for a leaking cistern (or any other ball valve type arrangement).

We had exactly the same problems - turned out one of those daft european
dual flush cisterns was leaking causing the valve to open slowly and
then close abrubtly. Frequency ranged from a few seconds to a few
minutes depending on water pressure, usage elsewhere etc.

Hth
Someone

On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:28:37 GMT someone who may be Duncan Hoyle
wrote this:-

My water pipes have started to give an annoying knocking noise

Did these start when the stopcock was opened fully, or a few weeks
later?

What sort of water system do you have? Does it occur on hot and cold
appliances?



--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

somebody wrote:
In message , Duncan
Hoyle writes

My house has developed an annoying problem that I've searched the
newsgroup for without finding anything similar...

My water pipes have started to give an annoying knocking noise but it
does not fit the descriptions of hammering that I've read - ie. it isn't
a knocking sound repeated in quick succession but a one-off knock that
sometimes repeats after 18 seconds and sometimes after minutes.
It doesn't happen all the time and is perhaps related to water
usage in the house - sometimes it happens straight after using a tap
and sometimes it happens later (perhaps even 30 minutes or more later).
I've felt the pipe with the stopcock on it and can feel vibration when
the knock occurs. I can also feel the vibration at any tap.

I've only noticed this in the past couple of weeks and the only things
that have changed water-wise are moving to a metered supply just before
xmas and opening the stopcock fully (previously it was almost closed and
had been for years in an attempt to stop a leak - a plumber re-sealed it
and since just before xmas it's been fully open).

Turning the stopcock off completely stops the noise as does leaving a
very small trickle of water or fast stream of drips coming from a tap
(I tried this with upstairs and downstairs taps). Obviously neither of
these are long term solutions so does anyone have any suggestion?

Duncan


Hi,

Check for a leaking cistern (or any other ball valve type arrangement).

We had exactly the same problems - turned out one of those daft european
dual flush cisterns was leaking causing the valve to open slowly and
then close abrubtly. Frequency ranged from a few seconds to a few
minutes depending on water pressure, usage elsewhere etc.

Hth
Someone
Id go for a smartly shutting ballcock in the header tank.

Ive heard those in my parents house years ago..I used to sleep uponeder
it..a hissing sound followed by a CLUNK as it shut off suddenly.

No idea what causes it. It was part of my life for years and years...